Key Points:
- €1.6B Deal: PKP Intercity orders 42 Alstom Coradia Max double-deck EMUs, Poland’s largest rail contract.
- Made in Poland: Built at Alstom’s Chorzów and Nadarzyn sites, deliveries start in 3.5 years.
- Modern Fleet: Six-car, 200 km/h trains with 30 years maintenance and option for 30 more units.
Global rail technology leader Alstom has signed a landmark agreement with PKP Intercity, Poland’s national rail operator, to supply 42 state-of-the-art Alstom Coradia Max Trains in double-deck electric multiple units (EMUs). The contract, valued at approximately 6.9 billion PLN, includes a comprehensive 30-year maintenance package, underscoring both companies’ commitment to long-term modernization of Poland’s passenger rail services.
Under the framework agreement, PKP Intercity retains the option to purchase an additional 30 Alstom Coradia Max Trains in the future, potentially expanding the fleet significantly. This deal represents one of the largest rolling stock procurements in PKP Intercity’s history and a major milestone in Poland’s efforts to modernize its national rail network.
Innovative Design and Passenger-Centric Features
Each Coradia Max trainset will feature six cars, four double-deck end cars, and two single-deck middle cars—offering a total of over 550 passenger seats. The design blends speed, comfort, and accessibility, with trains capable of operating at up to 200 km/h.
Production will be carried out primarily at Alstom’s Chorzów facility in Poland, while the bogies will be manufactured at its Nadarzyn site near Warsaw, reinforcing the company’s local manufacturing presence.
The Alstom Coradia Max Trains will offer a range of modern passenger amenities, including Wi-Fi, air conditioning, USB charging ports, individual reading lights, spacious luggage racks, family zones, and designated spaces for bicycles and strollers. Accessibility has been a key design focus, with step-free boarding from 760 mm platforms and automatic lifts for other platform heights, ensuring full inclusivity for passengers with reduced mobility.
PKP Intercity officials highlighted that the introduction of these new trains will mark “a new quality” for Polish rail travel, combining capacity, comfort, and affordability. The trains are expected to serve major routes connecting Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Olsztyn, Białystok, Łódź, and Terespol, significantly improving intercity travel efficiency. The first units are scheduled to enter passenger service within three and a half years.
Strategic Impact and the Future of Polish Rail
The agreement deepens Alstom’s longstanding partnership with PKP Intercity, which began over a decade ago with the successful delivery of 20 Pendolino high-speed trainsets. With this new contract for Alstom Coradia Max Trains, PKP Intercity continues its mission to expand capacity and enhance the passenger experience amid rising travel demand and sustainability goals.
The introduction of double-deck EMUs represents a strategic shift toward high-capacity, energy-efficient rail solutions in Poland. By producing the trains domestically, the partnership also bolsters local industry, employment, and technical expertise, positioning Poland as a key player in Europe’s rail manufacturing landscape.
For Alstom, this project strengthens its Alstom Coradia Max Trains product range and reinforces its leadership in the Central European rail market. As Europe moves toward greener and smarter transportation, this collaboration sets a benchmark for how modern design, passenger comfort, and local production can combine to shape the future of rail mobility.
With the Alstom Coradia Max Trains fleet soon to be rolled out, Poland’s intercity network is on track to deliver faster, more comfortable, and more sustainable journeys, marking a transformative step in the nation’s rail evolution.
